LAGRANGE - An ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing won final approval during a special meeting of the LaGrange County Commissioners this morning.

The ordinance was a requirement for a grant application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs in support of the Howe Volunteer Fire Department’s purchase of a much needed tanker truck.

The special meeting became necessary when Commissioner Larry Miller refused to waive second reading of the ordinance on Monday. The grant application is due in Indianapolis on Friday.

Miller voted against the ordinance on both readings because it changes the definition of a family to include gay couples and their children. Commissioners Jac Price and Garry Heller felt the mandate was heavy handed as well, but voted in favor of the ordinance because of the federal grant dollars that were at stake.

The ordinance is expected to be a requirement when the LaGrange County Area Transit and Council on Aging seek to renew their grants next year. Price said refusing to adopt the ordinance could potentially cost the county up to a million dollars in federal funding.